Steve Freedkin

5111 Telegraph Ave., #274
Oakland, CA 94609-1925
Voice mail: (510) 595-4626

Summary biography:
http://www.progressiveportal.org/steve/professional-bio.html

SKILLS SUMMARY

Technology, Organizational Management, and Financial Management

I currently build and maintain Web sites for several clients, and offer various ancillary services (e.g., captioning/indexing/cataloging images and other media). I also perform writing and copyediting functions.

I have managed organizations ranging in size from 2–3 people in one central office to more than two dozen staff and consultants in several locations. I am familiar with a range of computer applications including word processors, databases, spreadsheets, telecommunications, Web-site development, financial management, charting and graphing, and desktop publishing. I work with Macintosh, Windows, and DOS operating systems, and have basic programming abilities (custom databases, macros, and the like). I've created and tracked complex budgets for multi-project organizations. I have excellent human-relations skills and am as adept in working with constituents and co-workers as with equipment and information.

Social-Change Organizing

I have headed various social and political organizing campaigns, many of which have been successful, sometimes against substantial odds (e.g., cancellation of a nuclear power project that was already under construction). Have worked in electoral (candidate and initiative/referendum), issue, and public education arenas. Am an effective speaker (small meetings, news interviews/events, debates, large gatherings), writer, and publicizer, and am especially skilled at recruiting, training, managing, and coaching volunteers. I have a good mind for strategy, increasingly focusing on moving away from a confrontational/adversarial model of social change and toward a more cooperative, community-building model.

Fundraising

I have solicited and managed government and foundation grants as large as $1.5 million, and raised funds through house parties, membership campaigns, direct mail, email, phone-banking, the World Wide Web, and person-to-person outreach, as well as sales of merchandise and donation-linked long-distance telephone service. Have designed, upgraded, and managed tracking and reporting systems for fundraising and budget management.

Training and Teaching

I am adept at coaching staff members for productivity and professional growth. Have trained volunteer and professional activists in various leadership and activism skills. Have created and presented workshops and group training sessions. Have tutored writing, publication design and production, Web-site production, and general computer use. Have conducted in-depth training for crisis-intervention volunteers.

Writing, Public Relations

With extensive leadership experience in environmental, peace and social justice organizations, and professional experience as a copyeditor, reporter, and editor (print, broadcast, and online), I am familiar with the needs of news, advertising, and promotion outlets. Have well-developed writing, speaking, and debating skills.

 
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Principal, your attention, please! communications
http://www.your-attention-please.com

I offer Web-site production, upgrading, management, and promotion (SEO), as well as copyediting, proofreading, audiovisual production, and other online/offline communication services. For one client I served as Production Editor overseeing a team of six in finalizing 1,200 short instructional videos.
Berkeley, CA — January 2001–present

Publisher, ProgressivePortal.org
http://www.progressiveportal.org

I presently operate this Web site for activism. Since its launch in May, 2001, users have sent more than 3 million letters on a range of social issues. The site is supported through donations and merchandise sales.
Berkeley, CA — January 2001–present

Campaign Manager, Laura Wells for Governor 2010 (Green Party)
http://www.laurawells.org

I was the chief executive of this campaign during the 2010 primary season, working to broaden the political discourse while building the Green Party into a major contender. My candidate garnered 78% of the vote in the primary.
Oakland, CA — March 27–June 8, 2010

Operations and Finance Director, nonprofit policy analysis organization

I managed a policy research, development, and dissemination organization grappling with issues of rapid growth (staff of six when I joined, 17 when I left). Implemented computerization of financial records and financial reporting and controls. Authored a complex, multi-project annual budget; managed spending, and presented financial reports and options to the Board of Directors; wrote and implemented personnel policies, and benefit programs; participated in hiring, evaluation, and dismissal of staff; oversaw an administrative/technical staff of six; participated with the Executive Director in nearly many management decisions; coordinated an organizational development process; oversaw staff training.
Berkeley, CA — May 1996–December 2000,
then part-time/consulting through September 2001

Administrator, community development consulting firm

I managed all administrative aspects of a small (four-person) consulting firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. Duties included set-up and maintenance of a small computer network; production (and occasionally writing) of correspondence, reports, illustrations, and other documents to exacting standards; management of meeting and travel arrangements, payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger, tax payments, and related record-keeping; and vendor relations.
Oakland, CA — February 1995–May 1996

Campaign Organizer, Californians for Health Security

I was responsible for fundraising and campaign organizing for a three-county area for the Proposition 186 campaign to establish a single payer health care system for California. Raised more than $70,000 with house parties and other efforts; generated extensive publicity; recruited and organized an extensive network of volunteers; hired and supervised a full-time assistant.
Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties, CA — August–November 1994

Proprietor, your attention, please! fundraising/p.r./graphics

Established fundraising programs with 15+ progressive nonprofit organizations using the affinity fundraising model with a long-distance telephone company. I write, design, and produce flyers, ads, and other promotional materials, and have designed and overseen telephone and direct-mail programs within my client organizations.
Santa Barbara and Oakland, CA — November 1992–February 1995

Executive Director, Peace Resource Center of Santa Barbara, Inc.

I had overall responsibility for management, fundraising, and day-to-day operations of this community peace center. Developed budgets, program plans, and operational procedures; hired and supervised staff; worked with the Board of Directors and various committees; represented the organization in public speaking engagements, news interviews, written statements, telecommunications, and other media; trained and supervised volunteers — in short, oversaw and participated in all phases of operating a leading local, grass-roots nonprofit organization. I worked with volunteers and Board members ranging in age from 12 to 86 and of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Under my direction the PRC grew to a staff of five part-time workers in addition to myself (full-time).
Santa Barbara, CA — June 1989–October 1992

Executive Assistant, Central Michigan Physicians for Social Responsibility

When I served as the staffperson for this chapter of PSR, it grew into one of the more active chapters in the country. I wrote and produced a television series, Nuclear Choices, aired on a local commercial station. I opened an office/store that gave the organization high visibility and resulted in more than 100 people volunteering. I developed various programmatic and fundraising strategies, including media campaigns (Nonviolent Toys, Nuclear Test Ban), visits from Soviet scientists, and a sustaining-contributor program that included direct transfers from donors' checking and credit-card accounts. I organized and advised an affiliate, Students for Social Responsibility.
Lansing, MI — Part-time, January 1987–May 1989

Editor and Publisher, the Michigan Peacemaker Magazine

I founded, published, and edited this magazine covering Michigan's peace community. At its height it had more than 1,000 paying subscribers throughout the state. My work on the Michigan Peacemaker and other peace work put me in close contact with secular and religious peace and justice advocates from many ethnic groups, economic levels, and urban and rural communities.
Lansing, MI — 1983–1988

Proprietor, Typing and Editing Service

I founded and operated a typing and editing service, at one point employing five typists, catering primarily to university students. Had a large and varied clientele including graduate students from around the world (Africans, Arabics, Asians, and others whose cultures don't begin with "A").
Lansing, MI — May 1979–January 1987

Executive Director,
Public Interest Research Group in Michigan (PIRGIM)

Joined this Ralph Nader-style consumer-action group as Energy Director in February 1978; became Executive Director summer 1978. Extensive public speaking and media appearances included testimony before state legislative committees and debates with utility company representatives on nuclear power. (We played a major role in cancellation of a nuclear power project under construction.) As Executive Director, supervised staff of nine, oversaw coordination of Michigan observance of Sun Day (international celebration of solar and other alternative energy sources), and coordinated activities of five campus chapters.
Lansing, MI — February 1978–May 1979

Founder and Executive Director, Free Environment, Inc.

I organized this environmental group at the University of Iowa. Started by publishing a monthly magazine, and expanded into an action group with projects on recycling, energy, and other issues. At one time we had a staff of seven part-time workers and more than 200 active volunteers. We were instrumental in saving a small park slated for destruction and in stopping a proposed nuclear power plant.
Iowa City, IA — September 1974–January 1978

Reporter, Editor, The Daily Iowan and other publications

I wrote profusely — sometimes several stories a day — including an award-winning investigative report, for the University of Iowa campus newspaper (1975–1977). Other reporting experience: Reporter/Feature Writer, Lansing Star (MI) weekly. News Reporter, WKAR Public Radio (East Lansing, MI). Reporter, columnist, and assistant editor for the Hyde Park Herald, a community weekly, in Chicago (1971–1973). As an editor, I was responsible for writing, editing, layout, and illustration of a neighborhood edition of the paper. Stringer (free-lance reporter), Chicago Tribune. Editor-in-chief, layout editor, and reporter for my high-school newspaper (1970–1973); won three awards for articles, and "best newspaper" during my tenure as editor-in-chief, from the Northern Illinois High School Press Association.
Chicago, IL; Iowa City, IA; Lansing, MI — 1970–1981

Freelance Activities

I wrote, designed, typeset, and produced publications for various organizations; managed mailing lists; advised leaders of various groups on organizing strategies, fundraising, and publicity. I initiated the 700-mile Michigan Peace March in 1987 and was a lead organizer of a mass demonstration (August 1988) at the plant where cruise missile engines are made. I served as Vice Chair of the East Lansing Peace Education Center and was active in several other groups in Michigan. I served as a crisis counselor for more than 6 years, including as a trainer of other counselors and public-relations person for a local crisis center.
Iowa City, IA/Lansing, MI — January 1987–May 1989

 
EDUCATION

University of Iowa

Dual major: journalism and environmental affairs. Additional credit for founding and directing Free Environment, Inc.
Iowa City, IA — August 1973–January 1978

Community Training Bank, Other Training Programs

Attended workshops on strategic planning for nonprofits and on bookkeeping for nonprofits. Have attended numerous workshops on organizational management issues.
Santa Barbara, CA — Bookkeeping: February 1990;
Strategic Planning: April 1991;
San Francisco Bay Area — various workshops, 1995–1999

Midwest Academy

Four-day intensive fundraising workshop. Topics included direct mail, canvassing, small-scale and large-scale events, grants.
Chicago, IL — Summer 1976

Additional information, work samples, references available upon request.

Updated 22 Sep 2012

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